It’s obvious that the “Here Comes Sunshine” was the swaying factor in Dick Latvala’s decision to release this night for the first released pick. It’s also the last stand of 1973, a year universality praised by many deadheads (and rightfully so!). It happens to be my favorite year, and I’m of the opinion that the Dead bade farewell to this year in fine fashion, although the previous night in Tampa deserves the nod for the stronger of the two shows.

The aforementioned HCS is truly epic, and along with the versions played on 12/6, 11/30, 11/17 and 2/23/74, ranks among the very best. The last show of December is not actually an all around spectacular show, all told. Much of the first set is dialed in, save for the “Playin’”, and this version, while good, is nowhere near the best of the year. (For superlative stand alone versions look to the month of February, 3/16, 5/26, 7/1 & 10/19.) The Second set, per usual, offers up more interesting sonic goods. The segue-wave involving “Truckin’->Nobody’s Fault But Min->Jam->Other One->Jam” is the undisputed highlight. The “Truckin’” itself is pretty uneventful, but the “Nobody’s Fault” is remarkable (best version of the year, imho), and the jam that is segues into is worth a listen or three. The “Other One” that follows is very lean, clocking in at under two minutes (Phil Lesh disallowed the inclusion of his bass solo before this night was released), then segues into one of the greatest “insect fear” meltdown jams of the 73/74 era. The jarring, yet thrilling waves of electronic crescendos hint at the upcoming “Seastones” section that would later grace or plague (depending on your tastes) summer and fall ’74 shows.

Being a relative newcomer to the world of the Grateful Dead, this show (Dicks Picks vol.1) was the first I'd ever heard. Consequently this is the first Half Step i'd ever heard and had no idea there was a "last verse" until I heard another version a month or so later.

Hundreds of shows and a few years later this is still one of my favorite Half Steps and still the only Half Step i've heard where the band forgoes "the Rio Grand" for a beautiful fade into the sunset instead.

These were great shows. Only disappointment they lost the horns when they hit the south. What happened to the Sugar Shack here. I never heard a tape of those nights.Passed on DP because they were edited for content. Thanks for putting this up great to hear this show again after 34 years, but where is my Sugar Shack.

Reviewer:phleshy -
-
April 20, 2005 Subject:
Only if you want to skip DP1.

It's cool that the Archive put up an audience copy of this show. The AUD quality isn't great but it's certainly listenable. I like the fact that the Archive sometimes does this (such as for 10/14/83, which the AUD is actually much preferable to the SBD). Of course, DP1 is the thing to get if you want a great-sounding 2nd set, but if you're broke or just don't want to invest the $$$$$, the AUD is the way to go.

Not to get defensive, but this was a stealth recording, so please take that into account (this is from my tape). You had to watch for roadies, cops and everything else while taping. Anyway, it does give some things that DP 1 doesn't have - such as the bass solo and the opening speech, and a few additional songs.
I give it a five because of the performance, not the quality of the recording.

Not to get defensive, but this was a stealth recording, so please take that into account (this is from my tape). You had to watch for roadies, cops and everything else while taping. Anyway, it does give some things that DP 1 doesn't have - such as the bass solo and the opening speech, and a few additional songs.
I give it a five because of the performance, not the quality of the recording.

This show has just about perfect versions of so much. This is the best HC Sunshine IMO, the best WRSuite IMO, and the best Nobody's fault, IMO.
The Playin is great, and the jam is just excellent-fine contrasts of racy jazzy jams and wild, over the top space meltdowns. I used this listenable but rough aud to patch in what was edited out of Dix Pix 1, such a strange choice for the first, but soo good. While I admit star ratings, my own included, are often overrated, this show is without a doubt a 5. This show should be in anyone's top 5 of 1973.

Reviewer:phleshy -
-
December 6, 2004 Subject:
Only if you want to skip DP1.

It's cool that the Archive put up an audience copy of this show. The AUD quality isn't great but it's certainly listenable. I like the fact that the Archive sometimes does this (such as for 10/14/83, which the AUD is actually much preferable to the SBD). Of course, DP1 is the thing to get if you want a great quality 2nd set, but if you're broke or just don't want to invest the $$$$$, the AUD is the way to go. But don't expect a great quality recording.